Question 1

What policies are required by UK law?

Accepted Answer

Charities are subject to all the laws other organisations and also the Charities Act and cover a wide range of areas, including employment, health and safety and data protection. The specific legal requirements may vary depending on the nature of the activities your charity undertakes and the countries in which it operates.

Question 2

What policies should a charity have?

Accepted Answer

The policies a charity should have depends on various factors, such as its activities. The trustees should ensure their charity has the policies needed to ensure they work within the Law and regulators' guidance; their charity is run effectively, and everyone is kept safe.

Question 3

What policies are required by the Charity Commission?

Accepted Answer

The Charity Commission doesn’t publish a list of policies required but does publish guidance on specific issues such as safeguarding, reserves, conflict of interest and risk management.

Question 4

What finance policies should a charity have?

Accepted Answer

There is no definitive list of charity finance policies, but Internal Financial controls and Reserves are the most common. Others include cash handling, schemes of delegation, investment, money laundering.

Question 5

Do charities need to have a reserves policy?

Accepted Answer

Trustees need to set aside sufficient funding to protect against reductions in income or to take advantage of an opportunity. A reserves policy is a useful way to do that and is usually a standard policy in all but the smallest charities.

Question 6

What is an ethical fundraising policy?

Accepted Answer

An ethical fundraising policy ensures a charity’s fundraising activities and behaviours comply with the Fundraising Code principles, fits with its values and ethics, and protects vulnerable donors.

Question 7

Do charities need a health and safety policy?

Accepted Answer

The H&SW Act requires organisations with 5 or more staff to have a written H&SW policy. However, charities with fewer should think about having one and should have any specific H&SW policies needed to keep everyone safe.

Question 8

Do all charities have to have a safeguarding policy?

Accepted Answer

Your charity must have a safeguarding policy if you work with children or vulnerable adults and trustees should consider other safety policies, such as H&SW, Bullying & Harassment and Whistleblowing.

Question 9

Do charities need a data protection policy?

Accepted Answer

The Data Protection Act applies to all organisations that process personal data, including volunteers and donors. A data protection policy helps you to comply with the Law.

Question 10

Do all charities need a complaints procedure?

Accepted Answer

No, but charities should always aim to ensure they respond to concerns or complaints quickly and well and having a complaints policy is a good way to do that.

Question 11

How often should charities review policies?

Accepted Answer

There should be a regular programme of reviewing all policies with key policies reviewed by trustees annually.

Question 12

How often should charities update policies?

Accepted Answer

Policies should be updated when the charity changes how it works, starts new activities or there is a change in the Law or regulator’s guidance.

UK Charity Policies - Guidance & Free Templates

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